This guy is one of the best centers in the game — when healthy. Can he return to form in time for the playoffs?

Check out the links to all our previous ‘Game Face’ profiles below.

DeMarcus Cousins

Contract: 1-year / $5.2 million

Outlook: Cousins was one of the league’s premier big men last year, averaging 25.2 points, 12.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists. Cousins’ performance, combined with his partnership with Anthony Davis in New Orleans, all but secured his first career appearance in the playoffs.

Then he tore his Achilles tendon in January.

While the signing of Cousins was the league’s second-biggest free-agent pickup of the summer, it’s tough to see to see Cousins fully returning to 100 percent considering the history of players coming back from the injury.

Kobe Bryant, after averaging 27.3 points the season he tore his tendon, played six, 35 and 66 games the next four seasons, averaging 37 percent from the field. Bryant’s injury also opened the door for other injuries, as he fractured his knee six games after his initial return, ending his 2013-14 season.

The only basketball player to return from the injury close to original form is Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins, who averaged 28 points on 45 percent shooting in the two years following the injury.

To his credit, Cousins has shown progress. Earlier this summer, he released teaser video for his upcoming Showtime documentary, where he’s seen running in a pool, getting shots up, while doing various exercises in the weight room. Over the last couple weeks, he’s even progressed to 3-on-3 games with teammates.

Final verdict: If Cousins can get to even 75 percent of the player he’s shown to be, the Warriors will be a lock to hoist their third straight Larry O’Brien Trophy in June — something Cousins is ready to be a part of, no matter what the role is.

Steve Kerr: “DeMarcus gives us a dynamic we haven’t really had, a really dominant big man. I think our players will take a lot of joy out of helping DeMarcus come back from the injury and helping him rebound and get his career back on track and in turn lean on him to help us win again. I think it’s going to be a really good scene for our season.”

Kevin Durant: “I’m so excited to have DeMarcus on the team. I think he’s going to be amazing. I think he’s going to help us just as much as we help him. I can’t wait for him to get back from his injury so he can get back to what he loves to do.”

Logan Murdock covers the Warriors for the Bay Area News Group. The Oakland native interned at Turner Sports and the Memphis Commercial Appeal and was a member of the Sports Journalism Institute's 2017 class.